65-80

There are pitch counts for a reason. It helps the coach to keep count on the pitches that the pitcher has thrown so that he doesn't destroy his arm.

 

If anyone with this mentality wants to pitch beyond HS, you better listen to the coach when he says it's time to come out and ice the arm.

 

I do know pitch counts have a purpose. I was saying that I see them more as a guideline than a set rule. If a pitcher is having the best game of his life and is at 89 pitches with a limit of 90, I wouldn't let him throw just 1 more pitch and take him out. Im saying when he is that general area, give or take a few pitches based on a player's perormance and health.

More than 90 pitches on any given day ( any given day ) for a kid 18 and under is a stretch. It is great to have the kid with a heart the size of Texas but common sense plays in when you approach the 100 pitch count. You quit pitching at some point and start throwing. I wish there were some charts that showed solid high school pitchers from 1 to 75 pitches and then 75 to 100 pitches. It would make a lot of mediocre high school coaches rethink their big heart theory and possibly save a young talent. I think the big difference everyone is debating here and Strike3 made the remark. Pitch and not throw. i can throw batting practice for days but pitch batting practice? I don't think so.

Here is another link, to Pitch Counts and survey information.

 

http://www.qcbaseball.com/philosophy/pitch_count2.aspx

From experience, I was a player in high school that would pitch anytime a coach would ask or I would even volunteer. I too played a position the day after I would pitch and icy hot was my best friend back then. There was even a day when I threw over 300 pitches in one day during a double header, which I would never recommend, but since I was extremely competetive and wanted to win, I still did it. I was like every other kid and would tell the coach my arm didn't hurt, but now that I am 35, I wake up some mornings and can barely move my shoulder. Coaches do need to keep tabs on pitch count, but they also can help pitchers out by keeping their arms in tip top shape by long tossing, stretching, and running. These 3 things are very important to an arm, no matter what a kid thinks.

 

Along with throwing 300 pitches in one day, the icy hot does not help. Icy hot opens the pores in your skin which allows cool air to circulate through your muscles. It's actually one of the worst things you could possibly do along with warming up with a jacket on.

Here is another link, to Pitch Counts and survey information.

 

http://www.qcbaseball.com/philosophy/pitch_count2.aspx

 

You love it, don't you?

You love it, don't you?

Yes I do and one day when they cut me open, cowhide will emerge....

 

I'm like you, I want to make sure as much information is available so decisions can be made to protect the youth age arms especially...this is so important it be done, along with the more developed teen age arm.

 

Each need proper conditioning, care, recovery and knowledge to minimize damage which results from the motion of "pitching the Baseball". Temporary damage DOES occur in the rotator cuff, tendons in both arm and elbow, along with muscle related injuries (stiffness, fatigue, dehydration) but can be repaired within a reasonable time, with proper care and recovery....ready for the next pitching outing.

Yes I do and one day when they cut me open, cowhide will emerge....

 

I'm like you, I want to make sure as much information is available so decisions can be made to protect the youth age arms especially...this is so important it be done, along with the more developed teen age arm.

 

Each need proper conditioning, care, recovery and knowledge to minimize damage which results from the motion of "pitching the Baseball". Temporary damage DOES occur in the rotator cuff, tendons in both arm and elbow, along with muscle related injuries (stiffness, fatigue, dehydration) but can be repaired within a reasonable time, with proper care and recovery....ready for the next pitching outing.

Agreed! :thumb:

Yes I do and one day when they cut me open, cowhide will emerge....

 

I'm like you, I want to make sure as much information is available so decisions can be made to protect the youth age arms especially...this is so important it be done, along with the more developed teen age arm.

 

Each need proper conditioning, care, recovery and knowledge to minimize damage which results from the motion of "pitching the Baseball". Temporary damage DOES occur in the rotator cuff, tendons in both arm and elbow, along with muscle related injuries (stiffness, fatigue, dehydration) but can be repaired within a reasonable time, with proper care and recovery....ready for the next pitching outing.

 

:thumb: :thumb: And the next season.

Honestly, it sounds in your description you both pitched and played an every day position, as do most but not all High School age pitchers.

 

You would agree, that loosening the arm up for Pitching, is not the same when playing a daily position, beyond the long tossing and warm-up tosses, since the pitching motion involves a lot of lower body muscles, hips, thighs and lower back, where as the throwing motion for an infielder is more of a short-arm, crow hop type throw.

I did and I would agree.

I will almost assuredly concede that a kid with college and professional prospects in pitching needs to follow all of these precautions listed throughout the thread.

I will almost assuredly concede that a kid with college and professional prospects in pitching needs to follow all of these precautions listed throughout the thread.

 

Advice from your lawyer? :lol:

I will almost assuredly concede that a kid with college and professional prospects in pitching needs to follow all of these precautions listed throughout the thread.

...100% agree with you BellA, any player with college aspirations may get only "one" chance to make an impression at the school he really wants to attend, so conditioning and arm care year round is essential, since that opportunity may arise at various times during the year.

Advice from your lawyer? :lol:

Negative. I knew I wouldnt pitch the rest of my life, so it was a viable option for me to work my arm the way I did. A kid that could make his living pitching probably does not want to go that route.

I'll give Bellalumni the benefit of the doubt on this one, and say that he has some of the right ideas but just went way too far with them.

 

In a sense, I agree that pitch counts are overrated. I have seen the stats, looked at the charts, etc. but I think that a kid can throw 100+ pitches in a game, as long as it is not on a regular basis.

 

The key to pitch counts is what many people miss - it is not necessarily the game, but what you do to prepare for the game. It is possible to throw 100 pitches and not be all that sore the next 1-2 days if you prepare properly in between starts. By that, I mean icing or resting the arm for that day and the next day. Then, on Day 2, you should long toss to stretch out the arm. While it was always one of my most painful days, in terms of being sore, it helps immensely for Day 3 and so on.

 

Day 3 you should be back to pitching from a mound, very lightly. In no way shape or form should you be throwing anywhere close to 75%...50% is probably more like it. You take this session to work on your offspeed pitches (NOT Breaking balls), location, and mechanics.

 

On Day 4, you do the same as Day 3, except a little more intensely. I'd say close to 75% on Day 4; however, each pitcher must know his / her own limits, and if their arm will be too sore on Day 5 (Gameday) then they should cut back how intense the "mound session" in the bullpen is.

 

Day 5 is game day, and warming up is essential. Personally, I always liked to get a nice sweat going in the bullpen. Then, you know you'll be ready to go out on the mound and hurl.

 

The key is not the start itself, but in between starts, IMO.